Skate trainer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for improving ice skating technique comprises a body formed of at least one block having first and second sides and first and second elastic loops operably connected to and formed adjacent to each of the first and second sides of the body. Each loop is sized to receive the knee of a user therein so as to locate the body therebetween. The elastic loops may be formed of a continuous member passed through a bore in a plurality of bodies

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to skate training in general and in particular to an apparatus for training a person to have proper skating technique.

2. Description of Related Art

Skating is an integral part of hockey, ringette and other ice sports. Accordingly, proper skating technique is not only important for the performance and enjoyment of such sports, but it also increases the safety of playing such sports by improving the player's ability to maneuver and avoid impacts.

One aspect of skating technique that is difficulty, especially for younger players, is to keep their feet and therefore also their knees slightly apart to provide a wider base for the player. Such a position is desirable to improve the stability of the player on their skates. In particular, many new players may have a tendency to keep their knees stiff with little bend. Such players will also often keep their feet close together in a position similar to standing.

For such players, it is difficult for them to learn to keep their feet further apart to provide a more stable base. Conventionally, one method for teaching such a player to keep their feet further apart has been to continuously remind such players to keep their feet wider apart. Such reminders and prompting, however has limited effectiveness as the player is unable to see or feel how their feet should be in the desired position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for improving ice skating technique comprising a body formed of at least one body having first and second sides and first and second elastic loops operably connected to and formed adjacent to each of the first and second sides of the body. Each loops is sized to receive the knee of a user therein so as to locate the body therebetween.

The at least one block may comprise a plurality of bodies. The first and second loops may be formed of a continuous member. The continuous member may be passed through a bore in the at least one block. The continuous member may include a closure for selectably opening and closing the continuous loop. The closure may be selected from the group consisting of a knot, a clasp or a connector.

Each of the at least one block may include two bores for passing the continuous member therethrough. The loops may include adjusting members for adjusting the size of the loop. The adjusting members may comprise cord locks.

The at least one block may be padded. The at least one block may be formed of expanded foam. The at least one block may be substantially disk shaped. The blocks may have a thickness between 0.5 and 2 inches.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a front view of a skater wearing a skate training apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the skate training apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the skate training apparatus of FIG. 2 being adjusted to have a varying width.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the skate training apparatus of FIG. 1 as taken along the line 4-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus for improving the skating technique of a user 8 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a body 12 formed of at least one block 14 stacked together. The body 12 extends between first and second ends, 16 and 18, respectively. The apparatus 10 further includes an elongate flexible member 30 extending through the blocks 14 and forming first and second loops, 38 and 40, respectively adjacent to the first and second ends 16 and 18.

Each body 14 extends between first and second sides, 20 and 22 and an outer peripheral edge 24. As illustrated, the body 12 is formed of a plurality of blocks 14 stacked together such that the first side 20 of a one block 14 is located proximate to a second side 22 of a second block 14. The first and second sides 20 and 22 of the blocks 14 may be substantially parallel to each other so as to assist stacking and may be substantially flat. Each body 14 has a thickness between the first and second sides 20 and 22 selected to permit a user to adjust the overall width of the body 12 by removing or introducing additional blocks 14 into the apparatus as will be more fully be described below. In particular, each body may have a thickness between 0.5 and 2 inches (12 and 51 mm) although it will be appreciated that other thicknesses may be useful as well.

The peripheral edge 24 of each block may have any shape as desired by a user, such as, by way of non-limiting example, round, square, rectangular, triangular, oval octagonal or irregular. The block 14 will also be selected to have a size adequate to provide an adequate brace between the knees of the user, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a diameter of between 2 and 8 inches for a circular shaped block 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. It will be appreciated that similar sizes will also be utilized for blocks 14 of a different outline shape.

The blocks 14 may be formed of any suitable padded material, such as, by way of non-limiting example, foam rubbers, expanded foam, including ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane, or other materials having padded layers therearound, including foam rubbers, expanded foam, cotton, fabric or the like. As illustrated, the blocks 14 may also include one or more bores 26 extending therethrough between the first and second sides 20 and 22. The bores 26 are sized to pass an elongate flexible member 30 therethrough as will be more fully described below, such as, by way of non-limiting example, having a diameter of between 1/16 and ¼ inches (2 and 6 mm).

The elongate member 30 may comprise any flexible elastic elongate tensile member. As illustrated, the elongate member 30 may be formed of a length of elasticized cord, string, rope, rubber tubing or the like. The elongate member 30 may have a suitable cross section as desired by the user, such as, by way of non-limiting example, circular, oval or rectangular. It will also be appreciated that other elastic flexible members may be utilized. The elongate member 30 extend through the bores 26 of the blocks so as to connect them together into the body 12 as illustrated.

The elongate member 30 may be connected to itself by a knot 32 or other similar fastener to form a continuous loop. Examples of such fasteners may include, by are not limited to buckles, clasps or the like. The elongate member includes first and second adjusting clips, 34 and 36, respectively located to each end of the body through which the elongate member is passed twice to form first and second loops, 38 and 40, respectively adjacent to the ends of the body 12.

With reference to FIG. 4, the adjusting clips 34 and 36 each comprises a body 42 having a central bore 44 therethrough sized to accept the elongate member 30. The central bore 44 is selectably securable to the body 42 on the elongate member 30. In some embodiments, the support member may comprise a cord lock or cord fastener. In such embodiments, the support member includes a toggle or plunger 46 and an internal spring 48. The toggle 46 extends into the body 42 and includes a bore having a similar dimension to the central bore 44. The spring biases the bore in the toggle out of alignment with the central bore 44 such that the two bores may be substantially aligned when a user depressed the toggle. In such an alignment, the elongate member 30 may be freely passed therethrough and the adjusting clips 34 and 36 may be repositioned on the elongate member. Thereafter, the user may release the toggle so the spring will bias the toggle bore out of alignment with the central bore thereby frictionally engaging the elongate member 30 therebetween. In such a position, the support member will be secured on the elongate member. As illustrated, the elongate member 30 passes through a common central bore 44 twice to form each loop 38 and 40 for, although it will be appreciated that separate bores 44 for each pass of the elongate member may also be utilized.

In operation, a user may open the continuous loop of the elongate member 30 by untying knot 32 or otherwise undoing the connection therebetween. Thereafter, the second adjusting clip 36 may be removed from the elongate member and one or more blocks 14 removed or added thereto as illustrated in FIG. 3. Once the desired number of blocks 14 are located on the elongate member 30, the user may once again pass the elongate member through the second adjusting clip 36 and retie the knot 32. To utilize the present apparatus, the user places the first and second adjusting clips 34 and 36 at a distance from the body 12 so as to form first and second loops 38 and 40 adequate to locate a user's knees therein. Thereafter the first and second adjusting bodies may be tightened against the user's knees to secure the body 12 between the user's knees 8 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In such a position, the body 12 will prevent a user from moving their knees too close together when skating. It will also be appreciated that the elastic elongate member will provide permit the user to move their knees apart during normal skating motions and will also advantageously provide some resistance to such movement so as to increase the strength of the user's skating.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for improving ice skating technique comprising: a body formed of at least one block having first and second sides; and first and second elastic loops operably connected to and formed adjacent to each of said first and second sides of said body, each of said loops being sized to receive the knee of a user therein so as to locate said body therebetween.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one block comprises a plurality of blocks.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second loops are formed of a continuous member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said continuous member is passed through a bore in said at least one block.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said continuous member include a closure for selectably opening and closing the continuous loop.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said closure is selected from the group consisting of a knot, a clasp or a connector.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said at least one block includes two bores for passing said continuous member therethrough.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said loops include adjusting members for adjusting the size of said loop.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said adjusting members comprise cord locks.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one blocks are padded.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said at least one blocks are formed of expanded foam.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said at least one blocks are substantially disk shaped.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said blocks have a thickness between 0.5 and 2 inches. 